Nova Scotia’s Best of Both Coasts

Our self-guided tours have been designed for cyclists who wish to have the details looked after for them, such as accommodations and route notes, but want to cycle the week at their own pace. This bicycle tour will appeal to travelers who want to get in a few more miles, and see more of the province while they’re at it. Our Best of Both Coasts tour will have you cycling both the Lighthouse Route along Nova Scotia’s South Shore as well as the Evangeline Trail, which runs parallel to the incomparable Bay of Fundy, where the tides are the world's highest, rising more than 54 feet in the Minas Basin.

Day One — 57-75 km (easy to moderate; 1 km equals 0.62 miles) 

After an early shuttle from Halifax to Hubbards, you will set off on a bicycle ride around the Aspotogan Peninsula. See if you can spot the castle. You’ll pass through quaint villages and cycle by a handful of secluded, sandy beaches. After a tasty seaside picnic or a bowl of chowder at The Deck restaurant, you’ll continue around the peninsula to Chester, a village full of historic homes including the inn where you will hang your helmets for the evening. If your itinerary has you staying at The Atlantica Hotel and Marina, you will carry on past Chester to Western shore where your lovely resort is located.

Day Two — 54-70 km (easy to moderate) 

You’ll leave your inn for a trip off the beaten path, cycling the quiet country roads through Indian Point and Mahone Bay. Your destination is Lunenburg, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where you’ll rest for the evening. First settled in 1753, the town’s many historic buildings and homes will delight anyone with an eye for architecture or a passion for history.

Day Three — 82-100 km (moderate to challenging) 

Today you’ll take a scenic ride on an old cable ferry to LaHave, stopping at the LaHave Bakery — treasured by locals — for a delicious lunch. You’ll continue on to Crescent Beach, Mill Village and Liverpool before settling in to your lodge for the night.  

Day Four — 111-130 km (moderate to challenging) 

Today is a busy day one: You’re heading across the province towards the gorgeous town of Annapolis Royal, a rolling route that passes Kejimkujik National Park. Tonight, after yet another feast, you’ll hazard a candlelit graveyard tour with a captivating storyteller. Monsieur Melanson will try to frighten you, and you may even feel the presence of a Bluenose Ghost or two.

Day Five — 55 km (moderate) 

This morning's ride will take you to the quaint little town of Bear River. There are a number of artisans living in this community selling their wares. After a stroll through town and a light lunch, you will make your way back to Annapolis Royal in time to explore the many sites before dinner.

Day Six — 129 km (moderate) 

You’ll be touring through the Annapolis Valley to Wolfville, your ultimate destination — a gorgeous and buzzing university town. Today is one of your longer days of the week, but oh so beautiful as you are never far from the Annapolis River and the many apple orchards along the way.

Day Seven — 20 km (easy)

A short ride will find you cycling alongside dykes built by the Acadians many years ago to tame the Bay of Fundy’s tides. En route, you’ll visit Grand Pré, the village immortalized in Longfellow’s epic poem Evangeline. In 1755, the English expelled most Acadians for refusing to sign an oath of loyalty (an act known as Le Grande Dérangement). Many Acadians resettled in Louisiana and became that region's Cajun population. Your tour ends with a transfer back to Halifax.

* Details subject to change. 

** For self-guided tours, it is assumed you are able to do your own small bicycle repairs such as mending a punctured tube.

 This tour is also available as guided